Intel: Syrian Army Reveals New Turkish Ejder 6x6 Carrier Fleet at Damascus Military Parade.

Syria publicly unveiled a dozen Turkish-built Ejder 6x6 armored personnel carriers during its Liberation Day parade in Damascus on 8 December, according to reporting from Janes and supporting open source imagery. The debut highlights the new government’s effort to project stability and rebuild mechanized forces after years of civil conflict.

The Syrian Armed Forces used the first Liberation Day parade under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to showcase a previously unreported fleet of Turkish-made Nurol Ejder 6x6 armored vehicles. Twelve APCs, repainted in Syrian sand colors, rolled through central Damascus in tight formation. Analysts tracking the event say the vehicles match the Ejder TTZA variant from Nurol Makina, a platform not previously documented in Syrian government service. Defense observers view the public display as an intentional signal that the new authorities want to present a more modern, survivable force posture after years of attrition.
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Nurol Ejder 6x6 armored personnel carrier configured to accept a remote weapon station for 7,62 or 12,7 mm machine guns or a 40 mm grenade launcher, with options for turreted 25 to 30 mm cannon fire support (Picture source; Screenshot from Sana).

The Ejder 6x6 follows a classic wheeled APC layout with the engine in the front, driver and commander seated forward, and a rear troop compartment accessed through a large power-operated ramp. The vehicle weighs around 18 tons, carries a crew of two plus up to ten dismounts, and measures roughly 7.1 meters in length and 2.7 meters in width, giving it a footprint comparable to older Soviet designed BTRs that remain in Syrian stocks. Power comes from a six-cylinder turbocharged Cummins diesel producing just over 400 horsepower, providing road speeds in excess of 100 km/h and an operational range advertised between 650 and 800 km depending on configuration. Independent suspension, steerable first and second axles, run-flat tires, and an optional central tire inflation system give the platform credible mobility on broken roads and in dense urban environments where Syrian units frequently operate.

Protection is where the Ejder represents a clear step forward for Syrian mechanized infantry. Its welded steel hull can be brought close to STANAG Level 4 with add-on armor kits, offering all-around resistance to 14.5 mm heavy machine gun fire and artillery fragments, a significant improvement over thin-skinned legacy carriers. A pronounced V-shaped underbody and blast attenuating seating are designed to improve survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices, addressing one of the main threats that devastated Syrian armored columns during the war years. The hull is fitted with six smoke grenade launchers for rapid self-screening, while twin waterjets at the rear provide low-speed amphibious capability for river and canal crossings.

In its export catalog, the Ejder can carry a remotely controlled weapon station with a 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, and the chassis is capable of accepting turrets up to 25 or 30 mm for direct fire support roles. During the Damascus parade, however, the vehicles appeared unarmed and without visible fire control or battle management systems. That suggests the new Syrian leadership is fielding the Ejder first as a protected mobility and prestige platform, with armament and digital integration to follow once funding, training, and doctrine catch up.

Operationally, the Ejder gives the Syrian army a more survivable wheeled carrier for mechanized infantry, internal security, and quick reaction tasks in the western corridor, where established road networks favor 6x6 vehicles. Compared to aging BTR 60s and BTR 152s, the Ejder offers far better mine and ambush protection against residual Islamic State cells and other armed groups, while still retaining enough off-road and amphibious performance to support border security missions along the Euphrates and in the northwest.

The acquisition pathway appears to run through Turkish stocks originally sourced from Georgia, which received Ejder 6x6 vehicles before returning them in favor of newer designs. Refurbished vehicles have likely been quietly diverted into Syrian service as Ankara and Damascus test limited security cooperation under the new post-Assad political reality. For the al-Sharaa administration, the arrival of a modest but modern 6x6 fleet offers both symbolic and practical benefits: elite formations can refresh their public image and parade units while gradually building a small pool of mine-resistant wheeled carriers for real operations. As these vehicles are armed and networked over time, experts assess that Ejder-equipped sub-units will likely be assigned to high-visibility convoy escort, urban presence patrols, and rapid reinforcement of threatened sectors, giving the reconstituted Syrian state a modest but meaningful boost in mobility and survivability.